VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3], 4 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 13:07:45 04/19/02 Fri
Author: Weird_Engima
Author Host/IP: 209.252.133.107
Subject: End the Israeli occupation
In reply to: Weird_Enigma 's message, "Arafat's Harvest of Hate" on 20:25:38 03/26/02 Tue

Posted on Fri, Apr. 19, 2002 From the Charlotte Observer

End the Israeli occupation

A letter from Linda Sadallah of Charlotte, an American who lived in the West Bank for three years in the 1970s:

The Israeli occupation of Palestinian land for over 30 years is the driving force behind the Palestinian uprising. The Israeli government's terrorist tactics against civilians should be denounced by people of conscience. We watch the news and are horrified by the scenes of mass arrests, blindfolding prisoners and writing numbers on their arms. We should speak out against the cruel and inhuman actions of forcibly confining families in their homes without food, electricity, water and access to medical facilities.

There have been countless reports of ambulances denied access to wounded people, resulting in their avoidable deaths. Other reports tell of civilian Palestinians being used as human shields by the Israeli troops. The Israelis bar outside observers, so the world cannot see what is happening.

We must speak out in defense of the Palestinians. They are people under occupation, victims of the confiscation of their land, murders of their children and leaders, destruction of their homes and the humiliating deprivation of human rights.

Throughout history, people fighting to end the occupation of their land are seen as heroes and freedom fighters. As a nation, we've always applauded the efforts of oppressed people to be free.

We do not, and should not, condone suicide bombings against Israeli civilians. Neither should we condone use of tanks, planes and helicopter bombings against Palestinian civilians. An Israeli bomb that targets Palestinian civilians and kills them is just as horrific as a Palestinian bomb that kills Israelis.

Israel is in defiance of several U.N. resolutions. If we fairly put the same amount of pressure on the Israeli leadership that we put on the Palestinian leadership to do what is needed, then peace could be achieved a lot sooner. We cannot call ourselves fair brokers of peace if we accept Israeli lawlessness.

The U.S. government should put restrictions on the arsenal that we give the Israelis. We cannot in good conscience allow weapons provided by American dollars to be turned on civilians.

In 1948 the country of Palestine was cut up like a sacrificial lamb to appease Zionist immigrants from Europe. Palestinians were forced at gunpoint to flee their homes and become refugees. Over 250 Palestinian villages were wiped off the face of the earth as though to erase their place in history. So much could be said of the plight of these people and the hardship they endured.

Yet in pursuit of peace, Palestinians have given up claim to their historical homeland and are simply asking for the establishment of a Palestinian state on a small portion (22 percent) of what used to be their country. Yet, some people have the nerve to ask the Palestinians to make more concessions.

An agreement establishing a legitimate Palestinian state would give the Palestinians the authority to govern themselves and build a future for their children free from humiliation and violence. Only when people are treated fairly can these two nations live in peace.

Yet what do Palestinians see? Israeli settlements built on land that Israel is supposed to give up. An occupying army that abuses Palestinians as they go to work or to a hospital. Israeli use of assassination as a political tool. Mass punishments of innocent Palestinians for violent acts against Israelis committed by unidentified persons.

Israel's leaders talk of peace, but actions speak louder than words. Peace cannot come without justice. For a long time, there has been no justice in Israel's treatment of Palestinians.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

  • Jews can love and criticize Israel -- Weird_Enigma, 23:57:51 05/07/02 Tue
    [ Contact Forum Admin ]

    Forum timezone: GMT-5
    VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
    Before posting please read our privacy policy.
    VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
    Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.